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Sculptor Gregor Kregar, who with his artist wife Sara Hughes and architect Davor Popadich created the work, said there was never any intention of creating a large phallic image in the sky.

Transit Cloud, he said, was connected to 30,000 tinted ceramic dots in the laneway floor, acknowledging the local portage history and modern transport focus of the precinct. The forms above resembled clouds and liquid matter, like raindrops.

"Art is out there to stir reaction," said Kregar.

He was confident people would embrace the work after 50m of neon lights are connected in each form.

The sculptor gave the Herald images of the clouds lit up in his New Lynn studio to show how the finished work would look at night.

Mr Popadich was surprised by the public response to the sculpture, saying it had a joyful and fun aspect.

Council arts and culture manager Kaye Glamuzina said art was always controversial and interpretation subjective.